Hello friends, it's hard to believe summer is already here! As we role into the month of June we will also be starting a new teaching series on the letter to the Romans, called The Gospel of the Righteous One, and this teaching series will last us all summer long.
Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome is, what many consider, his masterpiece. You will find the letter just after the book of Acts in the New Testament. I encourage all of you to read it several times this summer.
It's one of the most influential writings in Christian history. It was how great Christian thinkers and preachers like St. Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Wesley came to faith. Martin Luther wrote of Romans, "It is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes."
Modern day Christian thinkers and preachers sing it's praises too. John Piper has called this book "the greatest letter ever written." Martin Lloyd-Jones said it is "a colossal and incomparable statement of Christian truth." And J. I. Packer describes it as "the high peak of the Bible."
And our very own John Howell says, "Romans is super-duper!" And Mila (our special guest last Sunday) says of Romans, "rrrrrrrruff ruff!" (And I'm pretty sure that coincides with John's opinion.)
Seriously, we are in for a BIG treat. Romans covers all the major biblical themes bringing them together into a fast-moving and compelling line of thought. It's about the promise-keeping God who unveils his power and grace through the Good News of Jesus Christ. And this power and grace is available to "everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).
I can't wait and I hope to see you Sunday as we begin by looking at chapter 1 and chapter 16.
And, of course, I hope to see you all there!
Grace + Peace,
Heath
